Massage apparatus



Sept. 13, 1955 A. RESTLE 2,717,594

MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed July 6, 1954 mlvEriToR:

x ALm/ RESTL wiwi?? United States Patent() MASSAGE APPARATUS Albin Restle, Stockach, Baden, Germany Application July 6, 1954, Serial No. 441,589

21 Claims. (Cl. 128-57) This invention relates to massage apparatus and has as its main object to provide a device whereby a person can massage himor herself.

It is another object of the invention to provide a massage apparatus particularly adapted for tapping the muscles, particularly the muscles of the sole of the foot and of the calf of the leg, with sufficient force to cause the muscles to relax.

It is another object of the invention to provide a massage apparatus for relaxing the muscles and intensifying the blood circulation of the foot and the ankle portion of the lower leg, particularly to avoid an accumulation of combustion products such as lactic acid in said ankle portion.

These and additional objects of the invention will become more clearly apparent as the specilcation proceeds.

It is a feature of the invention to provide massage apparatus for relaxing the calf muscles of a human leg going up and down, comprising, in combination, an elastic suspension member for suspending the ankle portion of a substantially horizontal lower leg and expandable as the leg is going down and adapted to assist a subsequent lifting movement of the leg, and a stationary impact member arranged relative to the elastic member so as to be impinged by the underside of the calf of the downgoing leg.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a diagrammatic illustration of the principle employed according to the invention for tapping the calf of the leg,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the principle employed according to the invention for brushing the sole of the foot,

Fig. 3 is a front view showing a massage device embodying the invention,

Fig. 4 is a side view thereof,

Fig. 5a is a horizontal sectional detail view of a modification,

Fig. 5b is a partly sectional detail, showing in plan the modication of Fig. 5a with a different position of parts, and

Fig. 5c is a partly sectional detail elevation illustrating another modification of the invention.

Fig. l shows diagrammatically the suspension point A of an elastic member B terminating in a ring C. The leg whose calf is to be massaged is stuck with the ankle through the ring C. The person whose calf muscles are to be loosened takes a seat on the floor F at P, or on a chair. In front of the person the upper side D of an anvil D is placed so that every time the lower leg sus pended by parts B, C goes down the underside of the calf will impinge on the upper side D of anvil D. Every time the lower leg goes down the coil spring B is elastically expanded because the lower leg stuck through the ring loads the member B.

Since that expansion of B substantially assists the subsequent lifting of the lower leg, little effort is required on the part of person P. That little elfort is exercised by the thigh, so that the calf muscle of the appertaining lower leg is not strained at all and remains relaxed If according to the dia'grammatical Fig. 2 provision is made for wiping the sole faces of the foot by the bristle ends of a brush 7, carried on the floor F, as the leg is going up and down, the blood circulation in the sole of the foot is strongly promoted. These operations suitably precede a rolling-tapping massage of the sole, to be described hereinafter. Very delicate soles may only be brushed. Obviously the tapping massage of the sole can be applied alone or combined with a previous brushing treatment.

With reference to Fig. 3, the device has a base 1, which is prevented from slipping on the floor by rubber buffers 1a detachable from part 1. That base carries several spaced hollow rods 2, 3 and 4, which pass into sockets 2a, 3a and 4a. Angle keys 2b, 3b and 4b permit of detaching the rods from base 1 and brace them relative to the base. The rear rod 2 terminates in a forward bend 2c. That curved bend has a suspension means 5 for a looped rubber strip 6. A rear connection rod 5a of the suspension device 5 carries a plurality of spaced horizontal pegs 5b for the loop 6 of the strip. The pegs have upwardly directed front ends provided with a knob. The lower end of the loop depends freely from its peg 5b.

The rod or strut 3 arranged parallel to and in front of rod or strut 2 has an upper portion 3a which is flattened on both sides. The flat side facing the sole of the foot is covered by the back 7b of a brush '7a. A plate 9 covering the other side of the upper portion 3a serves several purposes to be set forth hereinafter.

According to Figs. 3 and 4 the brush 7a, b facing the sole of the foot has` bristles terminating in a plane surface, whereas Fig. 5a shows a brush with a back of angular or (shaped cross section. The latter is provided yat both side edges with anges 7c extending at an angle of about 30 deg. so that the bristles on flanges 7c can wipe also over the longitudinal edges of the sole. Thus the blood circulation in the sole is increased and a lateral displacement of the sole of the foot going up and down is prevented.

The plate 9 covering the upper portion 3a has at each longitudinal side a flange 9b extending at right angles to the plate. In each of the flanges a slot 9c is formed which extends from the upper edge of the ange, where the slot is open, approximately through a quadrant curving towards the plate 9 and terminating in a closed lower end. Fig. 5c shows that a Vertical pair of bosses 9a is impressed in the surface of plate 9 to enter into a pair of holes 3b of the upperk rod portion 3a. Thus the plate 9 is located on its backing 3a. The upper rod portion 3a and the plate 9 are provided each with a plurality of spaced registering holes, through which the parts 3a and 9 can be rigidly bolted together.

Known connecting means comprise bolts 11 extending through all registering openings 9d. One end of bolt 11 may terminate in a threaded extension, which can be screwed into the back 7b, or the end may terminate in the form of a head 11a. The other end of the bolt is articulated to a locking lever 12. A leaf spring, not shown, is interposed between the bolt 11 and the lever 12. Against the force of the leaf spring the lever 12 may be set either coaxial with or at right angles to the bolt 11. Unless the force of the leaf spring is overcome, it holds the parts in either of both positions. Thus if the lever 12 is at right angles to the bolt 11, the former will closely adjoin the plate surface; if the lever 12 is coaxial with the bolt 11, parts 11 and 12 can be moved in the holes 9d and can be pulled out if desired. The removal of the brush is effected, of course, when the parts 11, 12 are coaxial, and in the direction of arrow p1 (Fig. 5a).

According to Fig. 5 b the ends of shaft 8c are rotatably carried in the closed ends of slots 9c in anges 9b of plate 9. To this end the plate 9 must be turned through 180 deg. relative to the position of Fig. 5a so that both anges 9b are directed towards the sole of the foot. The pair of bosses 9a enters the aforementioned pair of holes 3b, to locate the plate 9 at the upper rod portion 3a. The same purpose is served by the two bolts 11 of the connecting means 11, 12. Said bolts are stuck through registering holes 9d in the upper rod portion 3a and in the plate 9. The levers 12 are set at right angles and apply against the plate surface. To detach the plate 9 from its backing 3a the levers 12 must be coaxial with the bolts 11.

The roll 8 formed at both ends with flange rings 8b is provided on its periphery with a plurality of bosses 8a' projecting from the periphery, or with annular elevations Sa, each of which defines a depression. Each time the sole of the foot is going up and down it strikes the tops of the bosses 8d or the rims of the elevations 8a and thus turns the roll on the shaft, which may be surrounded by a rigid core 3c. That impact causes a shorttime penetration of the surface of the sole of the foot, whereby the blood circulation in the entire foot up to and beyond the ankle is intensied. Each impact is, so to speak, a transition from a kneading to a tapping of the sole. Thus no combustion products can accumulate in the ankle portion of the lower leg.

The ange rings 8b prevent a lateral displacement of the sole of the foot during the operation of the roll. Depending on the material of the roll the bosses or annular elevations may be preferable for penetrating the sole. For very delicate soles a brush 7a, b is recommended, which effects a stroking massage. The latter may also be used before a kneading and tapping massage.

The front rod 4 carries the anvil 10 to be impinged by the underside of the calf of the leg. The impact surface is preferably rigid and the entire anvil 10 or at least the impact surface is held at an oblique angle relative to the rod 4 carrying it and to the other rods 2 and 3. It is also recommendable to arrange for a vertical adjustment of parts 7n, 9 and 10 carried by rods 3 and 4.

Another method of combining the two massage members for the sole of the foot on the flattened portion of rod 3, but without replacement of the roll for the brush,

is enabled by the detachable connection of the base to the rod 3. The main purpose of the detachable connection of rods 2, 3 and 4 serves to reduce the bulk of the massage device in transit.

After the angle key has been removed from the socket 3c the rod 3 is turned in socket 3c through 180 deg.

Then the angle key 3b is reinserted and tightened. Thus the desired sole massage member of Fig. 5a is correctly set relative to the sole of the foot. In that case no special connecting means such as 11, 12 are required for combining parts 3a, 7b and 9. These parts may now be connected, e. g., by ordinary bolts and wing nuts mounted thereon. It is obvious that the bosses 8d and elevations 8a projecting from the roll periphery cannot be combined.

Iclaim:

l. Massage apparatus for relaxing the calf muscles of a human leg going up and down, comprising, in combination, an elastic suspension member for suspending the ankle portion of a substantially horizontal lower leg and expandable as the leg is going down and adapted to assist a subsequent lifting movement of the leg, and a stationary impact member arranged relative to the elastic member so as to be impinged by the underside of the calf of the downgoing leg.

2. Massage apparatus as sct forth in claim 1, which comprises stationary suspension means for said suspension member.

3. Massage apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which the suspension member consists of a looped rubber strip and the impact member consists of an anvil.

4. Massage apparatus as set forth in claim l, which comprises means for suspending said suspension member and said impact member in any of several vertical positions.

5. Massage apparatus for the self-massage of the calf and sole of a person, comprising, in combination, a base carrying several upwardly directed rods, an elastic suspension member for suspending the ankle portion of a substantially horizontal lower leg, which member is carried by one of said rods and expandable as the leg is going down and adapted to assist a subsequent lifting movement of the leg, a massage member for the massage of the sole of the foot associated with said leg, which massage member is carried by another one of said rods, and an anvil formed with an impact portion arranged relative to the elastic member so as to be impinged by the underside of the calf of the downgoing leg.

6. Massage apparatus as set forth in claim 5, in which the rod carrying said elastic member has an upper portion terminating in a forwardly directed extension which carries a plurality of vertically spaced suspension means for said elastic suspension member.

7. Massage apparatus as set forth in claim 6, in which said vertically spaced suspension means are combined in a unit of construction carried by said extension.

8. Massage aparatus as set forth in claim 5, which comprises a rod which is carried by the base in front of the rods carrying the suspension and massage members and which carries said anvil, which has a top surface inclined relative to the rod carrying it and to the other two rods.

9. Massage apparatus as set forth in claim 5, in which the massage member consists of a brush.

10. Massage apparatus as set forth in claim 9, in which the brush has a back of (-shaped cross section.

11. Massage apparatus as set forth in claim 9, in which the brush has a back plate and the rod carrying the brush has adjacent thereto an upper portion flattened on both sides, one of which is covered by said back plate, and which apparatus comprises a locating plate applied against the other side of said flattened portion and means for locating the back and locating plates at the rod.

l2. Massage apparatus as set forth in claim 5, in which the rod carrying the massage member has a flattened upper portion and which comprises a locating plate for the massage member, which plate lies against said upper portion, and in which said rod is formed with a pair of holes in said flat side adjacent to said locating plate and said locating plate is formed with a pair of bosses entering into said holes to locate the plate relative to the rod.

13. Massage apparatus as set forth in claim 5, in which the rod carrying the massage member has a flattened upper portion and which comprises a locating plate for the massage member, which plate lies against said upper portion, said upper portion and locating plate being formed with registering holes, and bolts extending through said holes to locate the plate at the rod.

14. Massage apparatus as set forth in claim 13, in which each of said bolts has a free end and which comprises a locking lever articulated to said bolt and adapted to be either in line therewith to permit of its removal through said holes, or at an angle with said bolt for locking the bolt in said holes.

l5. Massage apparatus as set forth in claim 5, which comprises roll mounting means carried by the rod carrying the massage member and the massage member consists of a roll rotatably carried by said roll mounting means.

16. Massage apparatus as set forth in claim 15, in which the roll is formed with flange rings at both ends.

17. Massage apparatus as set forth in claim 15, in which the periphery of the roll is set with a plurality of spaced projecting bosses.

18. Massage apparatus as set forth in claim 15, '1n which the roll is formed with a plurality of spaced elevations projecting from its periphery and each defining a depression.

19. Massage apparatus as set forth in claim 15, in which the rod carrying the roll has adjacent thereto a attened upper portion and the roll mounting means comprise a shaft carrying said roll, a locating plate having a flat central portion lying against said flattened upper portion and on each longitudinal side having a ange directed at right angles to said central portion toward the sole of the foot, each iiange being formed with a slot which has a lower portion directed downwardly and toward the central portion of the plate and a closed lower end for receiving one end of said shaft, and means for locating said plate at said rod.

20. Massage apparatus for the self-massage of the cali and sole of a person, comprising, in combination, a base carrying several upwardly directed rods, an elastic suspension member for suspending the ankle portion of a substantially horizontal lower leg, which member is carried by one of said rods and expandable as the leg i` going down and adapted to assist a Subsequent lifting movement of the leg, a socket provided on said base and adapted to detachably hold a second one of said rods in either of two positions offset by 180 deg., said second rod having an upper portion flattened on both sides, a brush having a back plate lying against one of said flattened sides, a locating plate lying against the other of said attened sides, means for jointly locating said back and locating plates at said rod, a rOll rotatably mounted by said locating plate, said brush and roll being adapted selectively to serve as a massage member for the sole of the foot associated with said leg, depending on the position in which said rod is held by said socket, and an anvil formed with an impact portion arranged relative to the elastic member so as to be impinged by the underside of the calf of the downgoing leg.

2l. Massage apparatus for the self-massage of the sole of a person, comprising, in combination, a support, a roll formed on its periphery with massage projections and carried by said support for rotation on a horizontal axis, and an elastic suspension member depending from said support and adapted to suspend the ankle portion of a substantially horizontal lower leg, which member is expandable as the leg is going down and adapted to assist a subsequent lifting movement of the leg, said roll being arranged relative to the suspension member to present its massage projections to the sole of the foot as it is going up and down for substantially tangential contact therewith.

No references cited. 

